This is probably the easiest class you could possibly take at UVA. You should go to lecture because he doesn't post his slides, but each slide doesn't have too much info and you're all good for the exams if you copy it all down. Lecture can be a bit boring but he usually starts with or plays a bizarre song during lecture which keeps it a bit interesting. Exams are extremely easy, but if you happen to not study and mess up they're each worth less than 10% so its fine (I did well on the first exam, bombed the second, decently well on the final, and near 100s on all the homeworks and got a high A). Lab is just learning different kinds of music software and working on the homework assignments. My TA was Aaron Stepp and he was great -- lenient grader, super helpful and understanding about us not being totally functional at a 9 am lab section. Professor Burtner also brought donuts on the day of the final so that was a plus!

Really easy and great class. You're kind of forced to go to lecture because Burtner doesn't post up his slides on Collab, so you have to go in order to take notes. Two quizzes/tests (call them what you want) throughout the year with three homework assignments; ironically, the homework is worth much more than the two quizzes that you'll take, so don't be worried if you bomb those. As long as you follow the instructions on the homework, you're pretty much guaranteed an A. Focus mostly on listening for the quizzes, and if you've taken notes during lecture, you should do fine on those too. There's an artist review at the end and a final composition project, but both of those are really easy as well. The final was a breeze--25 multiple choice questions that were basically identify the song by genre/song/artist etc. If you spend a few hours listening to the songs (Burtner posts the entire playlist he chooses from on Collab) and are able to identify them with the first few seconds, you'll do great. Seriously, easiest A class I've ever taken at UVA.

I thought easy As didn't exist at UVA...then I took this class

This was probably one of the best classes I've ever taken at UVA. There's something very rewarding in learning musical skills that you can continue developing past this course. My ta was Aaron Stepp who was super chill and knowledgeable.

This class is extremely boring. Beyond boring during lecture. Eli Stine is a great TA.

Matthew (first name Christopher) Burtner is the man! I loved going to class, and he cares a lot about making it enjoyable. Almost every class included him playing music for us which was awesome. Eli Stine is an all star TA, take discussion/lab with him if you can.

This class is perfect for people that are interested in the history of electronic music. Also, you get the chance to make your own electronic music compositions which is really cool!

We had to do 3 music compositions, two midterm quizzes on the history stuff, and an artist review. Our final was so easy, 25 questions long, and each question involved listening to a song and identifying something about it (genre, type of media art, country of origin, etc.) Overall an amazing class and a great elective.

Also, BACS majors (people studying Computer Science in the College), this counts as an integration elective!

Go to every class and take notes and you'll be fine. There are three music making assignments that are surprisingly fun to do!

This was a cool class and I'd recommend it. Relatively easy A. In lectures you learn about the history of electronic music, some basic music theory, and different types of electronic instruments, and you listen to many different artists in different electronic music genres.

In lab, you learn how to use Audacity, Garageband, SPEAR, modulators, and other programs to manipulate and create sounds. There are three projects and a final project for the lab. It's generally pretty easy to do well on them because the class is focused on creativity rather than sticking to a formula.

After taking this class you can definitely continue making electronic music on your own if that's your thing. It also introduced me to a few new genres that I didn't know about, and I discovered a lot of artists I liked. It's definitely a worthwhile class.

Burtner is a somewhat interesting dude. You will hear electronic sounds that are unique, awkward, and sometimes jarring but all somewhat cool. Most of the class is learning the history of electronic music but there is a small composition aspect as well. It is more of an electronic music appreciation class than an electronic music composition class.

Very easy and interesting class. Burtner is extremely enthusiastic.In lectures you learn history of electronic music and listen to some of the strangest things you will ever hear. Lectures can be boring, but you also learn some cool things about electronic music. Labs are pretty fun, you learn to compose original music using garage band and sound samples. More emphasis is put on lab compositions than quizzes / tests on the lecture material. Quizzes can be tricky, but judging by the grade distribution I think they're probably curved significantly. If you like music or have any interest in modern electronic music you'll probably have fun!